Persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) was 38.2% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Latest (2018)
38.2%
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
10th
of 49 countries
All-time high
40.0%
in 2010
All-time low
36.5%
in 2016
Years of data
9
2010–2018
Persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) in United Kingdom, 2010–2018
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) in United Kingdom is 38.2%, measured in 2018.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) in United Kingdom peaked at 40.0% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 36.5%, in 2016.
That places United Kingdom 10th out of 49 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
Persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 40.0% | — |
| 2011 | 38.2% | -4.5% |
| 2012 | 39.7% | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 40.0% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 38.3% | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 40.0% | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 36.5% | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 36.8% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 38.2% | +3.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 38.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 33.9%, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 38.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 33.9%, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More poverty & inequality data for United Kingdom
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 6 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.56 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 7,138 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -7.54 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.91 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.9% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) in United Kingdom?
- Persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) in United Kingdom was 38.2% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 2010.
- What is the lowest persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.5% in 2016.
- How does United Kingdom rank for persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included)?
- United Kingdom ranks 10th out of 49 countries with data for 2018.
- Is persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons at risk of poverty before social transfers (pensions included in social transfers) by level of disability (activity limitation), sex and age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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